Author Lea Mishell

Excerpt from “SistaGirlz: RACHAEL — Book One”

"First, They Met"
CELEBRATION 1987
CQ and Etta's Estate
The Village of Honeycomb
Labor Day Weekend: Thursday, September 3, 1987 – Monday, September 7, 1987

Day One
As the families of CQREW gathered at the estate of Curtis "CQ" Banks and his partner Loretta "Etta/Big Mama" Price, he looked forward to the fun and food that was planned for that weekend. Familiar with the annual family reunion style gatherings, he knew almost all of the children playing and laughing around him. Everyone except...

Her.

Her laughter was the first thing that caught his attention. It was so light and happy that he couldn't help but smile when he heard it. His own smile grew bigger when she looked at him, even though the first time he thought she was looking at him, she was actually smiling at someone behind him. Her braided ponytails swung as she skipped over to her family.

Later at the first dinner, he sat next to his twin, across from the girl with braided ponytails. They caught each other's eye for a moment here and there. She could feel his eyes watching her as if he were studying for a test. She was watching him, too.

Day Two
The next day, he was eager for the girl's return for the day's activities. Knowing that many of the children could be blood related, he decided to gather information before he approached her.

"Who is that?" he asked his grandfather Curtis, pointing at... "The pretty girl with the ponytails."

His grandfather corrected him by gently pulling his hand down as they looked in the direction of the girl with two other girls wearing similar hairstyles, each uniquely and intricately braided. "Son, we don't point. And which one? I see three little girls with braided ponytails."

He only had his eyes on her.

"Are you talking about one of the Wallace-DeVille girls?" his grandfather inquired.

With a slow smile, he thought, "Yeah."

Before he could respond, he found himself following his grandfather over to the group of girls. "Granddad!" Two of the girls ran up to and squealed at his grandfather, the third one stood in place with her eyes locked on him while he had a closer view of her.

"Girls, meet your cousin, Aaron." His grandfather had just introduced him to the girl he was crushing on as his...

"Cousin?!" he blurted immediately.

His stomach dropped so fast it almost hurt.

The girl with the braided ponytails blinked once before speaking.

"Technically, Granddaddy Curtis isn't my grandfather," she explained calmly. "He's my sisters' grandfather."

She pointed across the yard toward two couples seated together in lawn chairs, laughing like they'd spent years doing exactly that.

"My grandparents are over there."

Aaron followed her hand carefully.

Still confused.

He looked back at her.

"But y'all came together."

"We're family," she said simply.

The answer somehow explained nothing and everything at the same time.

"How?"

She didn't hesitate. Didn't look embarrassed either.

"Angela and Nina's biological parents are the DeVilles. My biological parents are the Wallaces. But all four of our parents raise us together, including my three older brothers. I am my parents' only daughter and their youngest child."

Aaron stared at her for a second.

Not because he thought she was lying.

Because she talked about it like breathing.

Normal.

Easy.

Certain.

He could relate to the concept of a non-traditional household as he shared that he and his twin brother were raised by their single mother and her parents as well as the community they grew up in. She went on to explain that her biological parents, the Wallaces, were partners with the DeVilles, who are the biological parents of her sisters, Angela and Nina.

"Oh," he said softly.

Then, after another second:

"So Granddad Curtis isn't related to you?"

She giggled, her ponytails swinging again.

"Not that I know of."

Relief rushed through him so fast his shoulders loosened.

Immediately, his grandfather looked down at him knowingly.

Aaron ignored him.

Completely.

Trying to recover, he stuck his hand out toward her.

"My name's Aaron."

The girl smiled and shook it.

"I'm Rachael."

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That's ALL! 😏

Yaaaaas!!!

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